Caryatid (recto); Three Sketches: Two Caryatids, Pair of Putti Standing on Globe (verso) c. 17th century

This drawing depicts a caryatid, a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support, rendered in pen and brown ink. The unknown artist invokes classical antiquity through the figure of the caryatid, a symbol deeply entwined with notions of femininity, labor, and status. Often found in the architecture of ancient Greece, these figures supported structures, embodying a silent, enduring strength and burden. In a society where women's roles were frequently confined and their contributions overlooked, the caryatid became a complex metaphor for the burdens and expectations placed upon women. The caryatid is forever frozen in a pose of servitude and yet she is also elevated to an aesthetic ideal. Consider the duality inherent in the caryatid: a figure celebrated for her beauty yet eternally bound to her architectural duty. It's a compelling reflection on the multifaceted roles women have historically occupied, poised between idealized representation and the weight of societal expectations.